Leadership Fauquier

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United States
Warrenton, VA
Leadership Fauquier

We are a 501(c)3 creating a thriving community through informed and connected leaders in Fauquier.

08/30/2026

Please join me in wishing a very happy birthday to our Board Vice President, Chrissi Gore!

08/29/2026

Congratulations to Richard Benavidez (2026 Cohort) and Michael Fisher (Current Cohort) on all the hard work that earned this award!

08/28/2026

Look who it is: Richard Benavidez, 2026 Cohort!
Richard is highlighted in this recent issue of the Town Crier. We loved reading that his goal is to "continue learning and growing, both professionally and personally, so he's prepared for whatever opportunities come next."

The Town is lucky to have Richard as chief mechanic and so his is team. We are proud to have him in our alumni community!

08/27/2026

Congratulations to all of the Leadership Fauquier alumni recognized in the 2026 Fauquier Times Readers' Choice Awards. We are so proud of you and thankful to ALL of our alumni who lead, serve, and make Fauquier County stronger every day!

Best Financial Advisor: Jeremy Noel, Edward Jones
Best Mortgage Provider: Marcus Fields, Fields Mortgage Group
Best Real Estate Agent: Becky Miller, Piedmont Fine Properties
Best Firefighter: Matthew Shields, Fauquier County Fire Rescue System
Best Law Enforcement Officer: Mike Isenberg, Re*****on Police Department
Finalist for Best Public Servant & Spirit of Fauquier: Rachael Brinson , Town of Re*****on, Virginia
Finalist for Best Volunteer: Chrissi Gore, Community Volunteer
Finalist for Best Law Enforcement Officer: Justin Pierce, Warrenton Police Department

08/26/2026

We wrap up our intro posts with Christen Grimes! Christen is a dedicated nurse leader at Fauquier Health, known for her active commitment to patient safety, operational excellence, and continuous performance improvement. Leveraging structured frameworks such as the A3 problem-solving methodology, she drives organizational quality and fosters strong interprofessional collaboration across administrative and clinical teams. As an active contributor to statewide initiatives, including the Virginia Neonatal Perinatal Collaborative, VHHA focus groups, and serving on the board of Healthy Families and the EHDI of the VDH. Christen emphasizes accountability, regulatory reform, and high-quality evidence based clinical standards to enhance patient outcomes and support the bedside and ancillary teams.

08/25/2026

Lauren Polizzi is the founder and owner of Bold Characters Media Company, a full-service digital marketing and advertising agency based in Haymarket, Virginia.
As the head of business development, Lauren is the driving force behind the agency's growth. She specializes in curating strategic partnerships with businesses locally in Fauquier County and nationwide. For Lauren, business development is not just about expanding the company's footprint; it is about taking the time to deeply understand a client’s unique challenges and crafting tailored marketing solutions that deliver real, measurable impact.
Originally from Indiana, Lauren holds a B.S.W. in Social Work from Indiana University. After relocating to Virginia, she stepped away from her career to embrace her greatest joy: raising her children. When she was ready to return to the workforce, she encountered a job market that was hesitant to hire mothers with a resume gap. Unwilling to be sidelined, Lauren and her husband, Michael, took a fearless leap into entrepreneurship to build their own agency.
Today, she leverages her natural empathy, advocacy background, and networking skills to empower other business owners to succeed in the digital space. When she isn’t strategizing for clients or scaling the agency, you can find Lauren catching a live concert or spending quality downtime with her family.

08/24/2026

Brent Olson is a Financial Advisor with Edward Jones in Warrenton, where he enjoys helping individuals, families, and business owners make informed financial decisions and work toward their long-term goals. His career has been built around serving others. Brent began his professional journey in the United States Army with the 3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment (The Old Guard), followed by nearly two decades with the Arlington County Police Department before transitioning into financial services. Those experiences shaped his leadership style and reinforced his commitment to integrity, service, and building meaningful relationships. Brent and his wife are proud parents of two sons and are grateful to call Fauquier County home. Whether working with clients or serving his community, he believes lasting success is built on trust, compassion, and a genuine desire to help others. Through Leadership Fauquier, Brent looks forward to learning from fellow leaders, strengthening community partnerships, and contributing to the continued success and character of Fauquier County.

08/21/2026

Dr. Ia Gomez earned her Ph.D. in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology from the University of Córdoba, Spain, where she also completed her Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry. Following the completion of her doctoral studies, she pursued postdoctoral research in the Department of Biochemistry at the University of Connecticut Health Center (UCHC) in Farmington, Connecticut. Dr. Gomez has dedicated more than 20 years to community college education in Virginia, combining a strong scientific background with a passion for teaching, workforce development, and academic leadership. She began her career at Northern Virginia Community College as the Biotechnology Outreach Coordinator and went on to serve in a series of progressively responsible roles, including full-time faculty member in Biology and Biotechnology, Biotechnology Program Head, Assistant Dean of Science, and Associate Dean of Science and Applied Technologies at the Manassas Campus. In 2018, Dr. Gomez joined Laurel Ridge Community College as Dean of Science, Integrated Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM), a position she continues to hold. Throughout her career, she has been committed to advancing student success, strengthening the STEM education pipeline, fostering industry and community partnerships, expanding pathways that connect students to high-demand careers, and developing innovative academic and training programs that prepare students for careers in STEM.

08/20/2026

Born and raised in Baltimore, Maryland, now a Virginia transplant, Christine Craddock has found her home in Haymarket, where she lives with her husband and their two children. She blends her passion for storytelling, photography, and mental health into her role at Mental Health Association of Fauquier County as the communications and outreach manager. She believes that hope, connection, and kindness can change lives; that recovery is possible; and that no one should walk through the storms of life alone.

08/19/2026

Mary Rose was born and raised in Fairfax County. She moved to Culpeper in 2018 and has two beautiful daughters. Her time here has been fun and educational all while becoming integrated with the community. Mary Rose cannot wait to be part of Leadership Fauquier and learn more about the area.

Address

321 Walker Drive, Suite 203
Warrenton, VA
20186

Website

http://www.leadershipfauquier.org/

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